A Texas man is suing propane manufacturers, alleging injuries he sustained in an accident he says was caused by a defective propane tank.
Lawrence Turek filed a lawsuit Sept. 23 in Galveston County District Court against JP Energy Partners, Pinnacle Propane and Pinnacle Propane Express, alleging negligence, gross negligence, manufacturing defect, design defect and failure to warn.
On Aug. 10, the complaint states, Turek was cooking in an outdoor kitchen at his home using an Lp-Gas propane cylinder manufactured by the defendants and purchased at a local gas station. Unknown to Turek, the suit says, the propane tank was leaking as he was cooking, causing gas and product to build up inside the cabinet where it was located.
When Turek turned off the burner, the lawsuit states, the gas ignited and started a flash fire, causing Turek to suffer injuries including severe burns to both his legs and his arm, for which he was admitted to a burn unit and was hospitalized for several days.
The complaint alleges the defendants were negligent in failing to design the equipment to operate safely and for designing an unreasonably dangerous propane tank, among other negligent acts or omissions.
Turek seeks damages of more than $1 million and punitive damages. He is represented by attorneys Anthony G. Buzbee and Andrew Dao of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston.
Galveston County District Court case number 15-cv-1023.